This Saturday night, the #19-ranked Texas Longhorns are staring down the barrel of their biggest game of the season against #7 Ole Miss, and they are doing it with one hand tied behind their back. Scratch that, probably *four* hands tied behind their back. We are talking about the potential loss of the best pass-rusher in college football, Colin Simmons, and two of their top four edge rushers, all at once. If that isn’t a recipe for a stomach-churning Saturday in Austin, I don’t know what is.
The Injuries Are Piling Up and the Edge Rush Is Gone
This is where it gets absolutely brutal for the Longhorns. Junior edge rusher Colin Simmons, who is an absolute nightmare for opposing QBs and a sure-fire All-American, is listed as “doubtful.” This dude is the leading pass-rusher in college football with a jaw-dropping 10½ sacks. Ten and a half! To lose that kind of production against a top-10 team? Oof. And if that wasn’t enough, true freshman Richard Wesley, a consensus five-star recruit, is not only out for this game but could be done for the entire season. Both of them are battling nasty high ankle sprains. Wesley has already put up seven tackles and six quarterback pressures this season, and teammates like defensive lineman Hero Kanu and left tackle Trevor Goosby were raving about his physical development and his bag of moves. It’s a double gut punch that leaves a gaping hole on the edge. Oh, and running back Hollywood Smothers is questionable too. Texas is already reeling from its first two-game losing streak since 2021, including a recent 27-24 upset loss to Florida where a backup QB carved them up. This 4-2 team is in a world of hurt.
Sarkisian Says “Depth,” But Can They Really Contain Chambliss?
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian tried to play it cool on Thursday, saying, “We’ve got four really good players still,” and talking up the versatility of his interior defensive linemen and linebacker Rasheem Biles. He even added, “So we’ve got enough depth in there. We’ve got quality players in there.” Look, you have to say that. But let’s be real, the guys being called upon, starting end Lance Jackson and backup Zina Umeozulu, have combined for just two sacks *all season*. Jackson, while a good player, reportedly missed six tackles against Florida and isn’t exactly a speed demon off the edge. Umeozulu isn’t much of a perimeter threat either. Now they’re counting on reserve Brad Spence and little-used Colton Vasek to step up too. Biles will likely be blitzing more often, but here’s the kicker: Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, the guy they’re trying to contain, is incredibly impactful against the blitz. Muschamp’s defense already blitzes less than almost anyone else in the SEC. This isn’t just a loss of a few players, it’s a strategic nightmare against a potent offense.
Trinidad Chambliss Is Coming for Texas, and Arch Manning Isn’t Stepping Up
So, who are these depleted Longhorns up against? Only Trinidad Chambliss, arguably the best quarterback in the nation. This guy is second in the SEC and 13th nationally with 279 yards passing per game, and he’s thrown 14 touchdowns. He’s accurate, athletic, moves incredibly well in the pocket, and led the Rebels to last year’s College Football Playoff semifinals. He might not run often, but he makes plays. Texas’s own Arch Manning, meanwhile, isn’t even in the top 10 in the SEC, with 11 touchdown passes and five interceptions. The contrast couldn’t be starker. Losing Simmons and Wesley against a QB of Chambliss’s caliber, who thrives against pressure and can extend plays, is a lethal blow. Texas needs to stop the bleeding, and fast, but this Saturday night looks like an uphill battle that just got a whole lot steeper.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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